INTRODUCTION. XXX111 



particularly into that subject, I must therefore 

 refer the reader to that portion of his work. 1 



Let us lastly enquire, to whom or what, 

 according to our author, God has given up 

 the reins ; whom he has appointed his vice- 

 roy in the government of the universe. Na- 

 ture is the second power who sits on this 

 viceregal throne, governing the physical uni- 

 verse, whom we should expect to be superior 

 in intellect and power to angel and arch- 

 angel but no he defines her to be " An 

 order of things composed of objects inde- 

 pendent of matter, which are determined by 

 the observation of bodies, and the whole 

 amount of which constitutes a power un- 

 alterable in its essence, governed in all its 

 acts, and constantly acting upon all parts of 

 the physical universe/' 2 And again, Nature 

 he affirms consists of non-physical objects, 

 which are neither beings, nor bodies, nor 

 matter. It is composed of motion ; of laws 

 of every description ; and has perpetually at 

 its disposal space and time. 3 



With respect to the agency of this vice- 



1 Principles of Geology, ii. c. 1,2. 



* N. Diet. D'Hist. Nat. xxii. Art. Nature, 377. 



* Ibid. 



